I didn’t bother to try to prevent theskellein’s answer. These three were as loyal to River as she was tothem. It was time they knew what they were protecting.
“The demon part of her will eventually allowher to enter Hell, but as part angel, she could walk into Heaven aswell,” the skellein answered.
Erin inhaled sharply behind me. Hawk andVargas shot River assessing looks.
“The only time the gates to Heaven haveopened to allow something that wasn’t a soul through, was when theythrew Lucifer and the other fallen angels out. Those gates willlikely never open again,” I told the three of them.
They still looked as if they had no idea whatto make of any of this, but Erin and Vargas managed to nod whileHawk had anahaexpression on hisface. “That’s why the ghosts were so adamant about you talking tothe angels for them,” Hawk said.
“Ugh, ghosts,” the skelleins groaned as one,and River actually chuckled.
“But if the gates to Heaven did open, shewould be able to venture in. It would also be an adjustment periodfor her.” The skellein with the cane squeezed River’s arm. “Ofcourse, she would have to figure out a way to get there and I don’tsee any wings.” He leaned forward to peer around her back.
“No wings,” River croaked. “How long will ittake me to adjust to being so close to Hell?”
“That remains to be seen.”
“There are too many relying on me. It has tobe soon.”
“And you must be alive to be relied on,” Igrated.
“You are strong, vibrant. When you come backtomorrow, it will not be as bad, and the next day it will be evenbetter. Before you know it, you will grow accustomed to it andyou’ll be able to withstand it with ease,” the skellein repliedwith authority.
River didn’t look convinced when she glancedup at me.
“We’re leaving,” I said.
The skellein stepped aside, allowing us topass by him and down the stairs. The sun still hung in the sky whenI pushed open the door and ushered River into its light. She tiltedher chin up, closing her eyes as she absorbed the warmth of itsrays. The shadows under her eyes lessened as she absorbed the lifeflowing around her.
Turning to Vargas, Hawk, and Erin, I held outmy arm to stop them before they could walk down the steps. “Youtellnoone else what you learnedabout her in there, or what I will do to you will make losing apound of flesh feel like fun.”
“Not a word,” Hawk vowed.
“If I hear one murmur about what she is, I’llkill all three of you.”
“Kobal!” River protested.
“I’m still not sure what she is or how it’spossible,” Erin replied, “but no one will ever know what I learned.What about the skelleins, will they tell someone?”
“They’re the keepers of riddles and secrets.Nothing they know or see is ever revealed. Plus, they are Hell-borndemons that have been helping to keep Lucifer imprisoned for sixthousand years. They see Lucifer’s entrance into Hell as a failureon their part, one they’ve been trying to put to rights eversince,” Corson replied. “They’ll never reveal what they know abouther.”
“I see,” Hawk murmured and rubbed at thestubble lining his chin and cheeks.
I kept my arm around River as I hurried herdown the steps and away from the curious stares of the humans whohad remained in the clearing. Shax jogged over to us and jerked hishead to a small copse of trees. “I set your things up over here.”He ran an assessing gaze over River. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she replied.
She settled onto the grass near the blanketsShax led us to and pressed her palms against the grass poking upthrough the burnt-out earth. The others gathered around us,watching as the earth beneath her hands revitalized her. A rosy huecrept into her face once more. My heart swelled with love when abeautiful smile curved her full mouth.
“I never realized howmuchit nourished me,” she murmured.
“You wouldn’t. You’ve never been apart fromit,” I replied. “I knew some of your powers were fueled by theforce of life, but I didn’t realize it nourished you too. Like thetrees around us, the earth feeds you.”
Her fingers slid through the grass. “I willlearn to absorb nourishment from Hell also.”
Already part demon, she could throw fire andmark her Chosen as I marked her. But as part angel, she had themost beautiful violet eyes I’d ever seen and fed from the flow ofher surroundings. As part human, she had one of the most protectiveand passionate natures I’d ever encountered.
What would the absorption of Hell do to her?Would it bend her, break her? Could that be what had also helped totwist Lucifer into the creature he was now? On Earth, I could keepher connected to this world. I could not protect her if sheabsorbed Hell into herself upon entering it and it changed her.
